Improvement in horse-hitching devices



C. FRANK. HORSE HITCHING DEVICES.

N0. 194,999 Patented Sept.11,1877.,

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CHARLES FRANK, OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN HORSE-HITCHI NG DEVICES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 194,999, dated September 11, 1877; application filed February 15, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES FRANK, of the city of Harrisburg, county of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain Improvement in Horse- Hitches, of which the following is a full, clear, and accurate description of the construction and operation of thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents my improved device attached to a hitching-post. Fig. 2 represents the attaching-plate.

The object of my invention is to provide a means to keep horses, when hitched, properly distanced from the sidewalk, curb, and gutter, or from trees or other objects which the animals, when hitched to by the usual hitching-chain, are apt to injure by pawing, biting, and polluting. Besides, they encroach upon the sidewalk and damage it, and often dofl' the bridles by rubbing at posts or other objects; all of which objectionable features are overcome by my improvement.

My invention consists, mainly, in a stifiybraced drop-arm, B B, provided at its forward end E by one or more links, K H, one of which is the usual snap-hook or swivelbutton, and provided at its rear end by a hinged or pivoted connection with a post, A, or other object. The arm B B may be pivoted directly to such object; but I prefer to make the attachment by means of a base-plate, P, provided with flanges N N, in which are formed oblong slots F, and having lugs or stops D in close proximity thereto; and the arm B B has its ends 0 bent elbow form, to hook into said slots F F, and to be stopped by said lugs D to prevent the arm B B being thrown back over the post top. The slots F F are made long enough to allow the front end of the arm considerable play, so as not to hitch the animal too firmly. The arm B B is hinged or pivoted, so that when the device is not in actual use the arm may drop down to the post and be out of the way of passing objects.

I am aware that several modifications of my plan of construction exist; but I am also aware that they are more expensive and not more valuable than the plan chosen for illustration. One of such plans is to place the lugs D inside of the flanges N N, and to pivot the parts B B to the base by rivets through the slots 0. Another plan is to pivot said parts B B fixedly to said flanges-N N, and to abut them against the base P as a stop for them.

Having thus fully and clearly described my invention, I hereby append what I claim 1. A horse-hitching device consisting of a folding rigid arm, E B B, to hitch an animal a proper distance from a tree or sidewalk, post, or other object, for the purposes set forth.

2. The vertically-hinged arm E B B, provided with one or more links H K, and bent ends 0, in combination with a hinged or pivoted base-plate, P, provided with slots F and stops D, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have hereunto attached my hand this 12th day of February, 1877.

CHARLES FRANK.

Attest:

THEOPHILUS WEAVE PETER STUoKER. 

